Staying active is a must for a healthy and well-balanced lifestyle. You may do that by going to the gym, taking a run around the neighborhood, or a weekly trek to the nearest trekking trails. However, recent lockdowns and restrictions may have made you realize one thing: you need to be able to stay active even at home. A home gym is essential for every man who takes his workout and fitness routines seriously and religiously. But then, there is another problem: where should you have your gym?
Your basement is the perfect place for a personal home gym. It provides just enough privacy for you to do your routines. However, stop yourself before you get too excited to convert your basement into the ultimate home gym. From hiring a basement contractor for your basement finishing and remodeling to choosing your equipment, here are some things that you need to do and consider.
Hire a reputable and trusted basement contractor.
You may be tempted to convert your basement into your home gym by yourself, but it still pays to have professionals do the job. A professional and experienced basement contractor will do the necessary checks and precautions before they do basement finishing and remodeling. Your contractor will assess your basement if it is structurally sound and safe for a remodeling project.
If you have been using your basement for storage, chances are that you do not maintain them regularly. A basement contractor will ensure that there are no water problems, foundation issues, and other structural problems.
Determine the amount of space that you will need for your home gym.
To assess how much space your gym will need, you will need to do the following.
- Review your personal fitness goals. Your fitness goals will dictate the routines and exercises that you will be doing regularly.
- List down the equipment that you will need. From your list of routines and exercises, you will be able to identify what equipment you need to have in your home gym.
- Draw the layout of your home gym. Create a floor plan for your home gym. Make sure that you have enough space between your equipment that will allow for easy and comfortable movement. Make some room for a relaxation area where you can sit back and relax after an intense workout.
Put up some floor to ceiling mirrors.
A mirror will allow you to see if your posture and form are correct. Investing in a mirror will help you keep safe and avoid injuries when working out. It will also give your home gym the illusion of a bigger space than you have.
Make sure to have proper ventilation.
Proper ventilation is an essential part of your home gym. You cannot have a pleasant workout session if you have poor ventilation. You will likely run out of air and will feel the need to sit down. Here are some things that you can add to your basement gym to improve airflow.
- Overhead fans can help circulate the air in your basement gym.
- Small windows that you can open to let some air in should be in your consideration. You will need more openings to create a healthy airflow.
- An A/C is an option for a more comfortable workout experience. An A/C can help lower the temperature and the humidity in your basement gym.
- A manual ventilation fan can help pull out air from the room and push in some fresh air.
- An air purifier filters the air in your basement gym by catching small particles such as dust and mold spores. Some air filters can even filter out gas and other toxins.
- A dehumidifier can help keep excess moisture away, especially when you turn off your air conditioner.
- Indoor plants that thrive in low-light settings can help purify the air in your basement gym naturally. They will also make your gym look good and comfortable.
Install sufficient lighting.
Install sufficient lighting to keep your basement gym safe. A dimly lighted gym will not help motivate you to work out. Artificial light can help your gym look inviting and stimulating.
Consider your flooring options.
It is possible to have a home gym with bare concrete floors. You would not have problems with your heavy equipment with concrete floors. However, you can add these flooring materials to make your gym more comfortable, safer, and pleasant.
- Rubber Mats
- Foam Tiles
- Vinyl Panels
Choose your gear.
Finalize the list of gym equipment that you want to have in your basement gym. The list must coincide with your fitness goals. You can also consider combination machines to save floor space. Some of the most common gym equipment are treadmills, rowing machines, spin machines, ab crunch benches, dumbbells, yoga balls, punching bags, and yoga mats.
Bring on the music.
Music can make a big difference when working out. Upbeat sounds not only uplift your mood, but it can also get you into the groove. Ditch away the headphones and install a high-quality sound system. After all, this is your personal basement gym, and you can play your favorite workout playlist to motivate you. You may also consider installing a TV set so you can stream your favorite TV series or watch the news while you run on your treadmill.
There are many other things that you can do to create the ultimate basement gym. Enjoy your fully-equipped personal basement gym and have a blast working out.
